Orkney Inter-County - Season 2001-2002

Contents:- -Away-|-Home-

Away Match

If I can find the full results they will be placed here.
In all, it was an excellent result for both Caithness teams. Playing with slightly under-strength teams, due to late cancellations, the Caithness selectors were 'a tad' dubious of what might happen on the day. But, the debutants in the Caithness team, did not disgrace themselves in any-way, providing some excellent performances on the night and helping, especially the 'B' team, to take the trophy back over the water - past the Old Man.

'A' Teams - Overall RESULT - ORKNEY 5 (8) - 7 (16) CAITHNESS

'B' Teams - Overall RESULT - ORKNEY 5 (6) - 7 (18) CAITHNESS

Photos

Amy & Kirsty	Sean & Amy	Stallion & Sean
Benji & Joanne - Raz & Janice		Paaaauline, Marina & Jill
Carole & Ewen	Davie & Jane	Pam & John
Bird on a downer.... KC at back	Elspeth, on a high at being in the 'A' team and Calum	Fox & Caroline
Mummy & Son	"Right KC - 'r ye' ready for a drammie. Aye, Pammie - 'e port is touchin' ma lips, already".	Nobody loves me......

Home Match

After the intensity of picking the Caithness County Teams, this year - all three selectors were over-the-moon and throwing drams doon their neck, with the final results that both 'A' and 'B' teams amassed, against a slightly under strength Orkney select. Result, Caithness 'A' Team match 9-3 and 'B' Team 11-1.

'A' Teams - RESULT - CAITHNESS 9 - 3 ORKNEY

• 1st Ladies - C Mowat / J Campbell v E Gray / M Nicolson
  After the close match in the Ortak Open Womens Doubles Final, the Caithness girls were determined to win this encounter on their home soil. This they did, with the class and penetration (???) that they are coming accustomed to - in this new partnership.
• 2nd Ladies - P Bain / A Henderson v L Bradley / K Kent
  Pam and Ali, the long-time Caithness girlie partnership, ran out of puff in this match, after winning a very tight second game to their Orkney opponents.
• 3rd Ladies - J Grant / M McCoustra v Cursiter / Vendy
  Both of these couples played each other in the last inter-county match. Unfortunately for the Caithness girls, the result stayed the same but by a wider margin of points.
• 1st Mens - M Mackay / D Nicolson v E Ballintine/R Groundwater
  The Orkney pairing are becoming stronger every inter-county they notch up, making Mark Mackay and his partner work for every point and maybe the next time they may sneak a win. Taking nothing away from Davie Nicolson (new owner of Caithness Glass), at the age of 82 he is still managing to keep up with the young boys.
• 2nd Mens - J Henderson / E Sutherland v S Slater / C Reid
  The fugitive of the county team (Ewen Sutherland) managed to turn up for a couple of games, and partner the Bird to an easy win over, some might say, a pairing that look like they are sick of playing with each other (fox and calv) .
• 3rd Mens - J Durrand / S Campbell v M Clouston / C Flett
  The Wick pairing had a slight shock in the first game and maybe thought things were going to be easier than they had anticipated and talked about on the way down in the car - against an Orkney double who were drafted into the 'A' Team, at the last minute. But they got their act together in the second and finished off 2-0 winners.
• 1st Mixed - M Mackay / M McCoustra v R Groundwater / L Bradley
  One of the longest matches of the day would have to have been the very last game of the day. With Ratter going over his ankle, early-on - the Caithness side thought a 9-3 win on the day was going to be doomed. Marion and himself kept their head and managed to just pull off a 2-1 win.
• 2nd Mixed - J Henderson / J Grant v E Ballintine / K Kent
  Although the first game was close, there was only going to be one winner of this match. With Jane playing some neat net shots and serves and Bird finishing everything off at the back, it proved difficult for the Orkney pair to pick up points - thus, giving the Caithness pair a 2-0 win.
• 3rd Mixed - E Sutherland / C Mowat v C Reid / E Gray
  Although, this was a close match with some long rallies, their was only one thing on the audiences' mind - whether Ewen was going to trip over his shorts because they were so long. Anyway, the Caithness duo held their nerve and after relaxing a bit too much in the second game, finished off the match with a 2-1 win.
• 4th Mixed - S Campbell / J Campbell v S Slater / C Vendy
  This must have been the shock result of the day. The two Campbell's would have gone into this match with a 2-0 win, in their heads. But it was not to be..... After a close first game, their confidence seemed to go down. That was all the Orkney paring needed to penetrate their defence and go on to win 2-0.
• 5th Mixed - J Durrand / P Bain v M Clouston / M Nicolson
  'e Gang member and 'textbook' were in such a desperate rush to get to the bar, that they made short work of this encounter, winning 2-0 - never allowing the Orkney pairing into the match.
• 6th Mixed - D Nicolson / A Henderson v C Flett / L Cursiter
  Didn't see this match but the Old Heads filled with experience beat the young kiddies in a close match that could have gone any-way.

Photos

Caithness 'A' Team	Orkney 'A' Team
pictures from - Mario Luciani

'B' Teams - RESULT - CAITHNESS 11 - 1 ORKNEY

• 1st Ladies - J Turner / M Lancaster v L Shearer / L Johnston
  The Orkney pairing proved too strong for the Caithness girlies, in this match.
  Although, the Caithness pairing are both from Wick, this was the first time they had played together in a large scale match and struggled to find their feet - losing 2-0.
• 2nd Ladies - H Geddes / H Richards v L Ballintine / S Thompson
  The double 'H' pairing (Hilary and Helen) controlled this match, with their hard hitting and precise finishing, over-powering the Orkney duo 2-0.
• 3rd Ladies - A Simpson / K Grant v C Irvine / L Gray
  This was a dream start for young Kirsty Grant, appearing for the first time in Caithness colours. It was one thing winning your match but to secure a 2-0 triumph at 15-0, 15-0 was really taking the biscuit. Hope the debutante Orkney girls didn't take this badly and we will see them playing again, in the future.
• 1st Mens - R Craigie / B Mackay v M Flett / R Norquoy
  Unfortunately for Orkney, Mr Norquoy suffered a bad injury to his leg in the first game of the match - meaning a walkover for Caithness. Fortunately for Caithness, they were delighted because Raz and Benji were starting to look a bit red aboot 'e gills and 'e sweat was pooring oot o' them.
• 2nd Mens - D Mackay / D Swanson v L Robertson / R Foubister
  A long and hard match came from this match. It could have gone any-way but the Caithness pair held the pressure to secure a 2-1 win.
• 3rd Mens - S Henstridge / M Cook v J Linklater / A Hughes
  Again, the Caithness juniors proved too strong for the young Orkney lads and won the match 2-0.
• 1st Mixed - B Mackay / H Geddes v M Flett / L Shearer
  Benji and Hilary started to look a bit worried after loosing the second game 15-9. Maybe it was because Big Benji's pile driver smashes were starting to disappear through the fire exit - on a couple of occasions. But, they got their act together in the third to win 15-9 and 2-1.
• 2nd Mixed - R Craigie / J Turner v R Foubister / L Johnston
  I was informed by 'our new selector', to place in this section, that Jill had played brilliantly at the net, leaving him with very little to do and that is why they won the match 15-5, 15-1. Well, there you go...... He probably wants that sort of thing put in because he will be able to play with Jill in the away trip and cruise through and have an easy time, again. But, I'm taking nothing away from Jill - she probably did play well.
• 3rd Mixed - D Swanson / M Lancaster v L Robertson / S Thompson
  This was Michelle Lancaster's first Inter-County (as far as I know) and she was shaking so much that I could have thrown her in a bath and had my clothes washed. But, she had no need to be nervous because she played a blinder at the net and finished off any loose shots. The Caithness pair finished the match off in the third set, to win 2-1.
• 4th Mixed - D Mackay / H Richards v R Norquoy / L Ballintine
  Because Mr Norquoy was injured in the Mens doubles - this ment that the Caithness pair were given the match as a walkover.
• 5th Mixed - S Henstridge / A Simpson v J Linklater / C Irvine & 6th Mixed - M Cook / K Grant v A Hughes / L Gray
  Both sets of Caithness juniors proved too strong for the Orkney debut participants by beating them 2-0 in both matches.

Caithness 'B' Team	Orkney 'B' Team
pictures from - Mario Luciani

End-of-Document